Kids activity centre idea

[Schoolmumeroo]

Reposted from a previous threat I made as no responses:

A kids activity centre/ party place in a large town /city centre. You can hire the area out and choose your ‘theme’. Different packages available so it never feels like going to the same party twice without having the usual exact same soft play party place etc.
options for bouncy castle party, smaller soft play (ball pit, mats blocks etc) and ride on for younger ones, add packages for character appearances/ party host or facepainting. Few basic colour tablescapes and chairs to vary theme. Tableclothes provided, backdrop or chiara wall (some for most favourite characters) and balloon arch extras also available. Preboxed lunches included in fees(no hot food). Party bag extras.

Options for jewellery party/ lego party/craft party/ disco party?

so a decent sized premises with kitchenette and loo.

during the week school hours could be used for stay and play sessions, soft play sessions, hire to toddler franchises and during the holidays activity sessions (such as lego stay and play) for older ones too. Plus Easter/Halloween/Christmas parties. Kitchenette used for coffee and cakes, possibly food if income needed to be bulked up. Possibly even to host baby showers?

priced competitively so cost works out similar to all party options locally. (Hall hire locally is approx £100 for 2 hour party plus time before/after without any other costs included). Say three party slots on Saturday/Sunday each. Minimum number to ensure profit. Slightly reduced cost for a Friday night party.

I'm aware staffing costs would be high, 1-2 during the week and 2-3 at the weekend. Lots of health and safety and insurance requirements to check plus licensing characters etc. also staff training. Would need a basement/storage space and initial start of costs would be high.

Just want to hear your thoughts.

sounds good but you'll need a lot of storage and organisation to make it work with all the different themes.

what age group are you aiming at - under 5s or primary age or older?

think of the businesses that do this kind of thing already - trampolining / soft play etc. Most have a big communal playspace that is the same for everyone and then smaller 'party rooms' for food etc. They typically have 2-4 party rooms and keep things pretty fully booked to make money at a weekend.

Other places are just a big room for hire + an entertainer who does Frozen / crafts / pirate games etc.

I think you might do better to have a narrower focus (e.g. lego / craft parties) and do one thing well rather than trying to do everything. Crafty & lego parties require a quite different set of stuff (and more supervision) than a bouncy castle or a disco.

Do you have a venue in mind? is there parking? how many party groups can fit in?